NIGHT – 李鑫 – NACHT

Li XinNIGHT

he’s outside, cannot sleep
early morning, tossing and turning
small and shabby hotel
thinks of home, and of childhood
little girl next door suddenly bawling
on and on, her mother says
if you go on crying and don’t listen to me,
I don’t want you anymore
so familiar words
he knows in his heart
many years ago
his mama said to him maybe the same
feels a pain in his nose
hits himself in the face, lightly
sleep now, if you don’t listen
I don’t want you either
turns off the light
feels his damp cheeks